Luginbill seems to be a big believer in what Rodriguez is trying to build, explaining that overhauling an entire roster doesn't happen overnight. Also mentions not only is the talent level in need of a big upgrade, but also get the right players for the new style of play.

I suppose this is just another reminder to us all to be patient, as much as it sucks. I think it's still too tough to predict what the next 2 years will be like, but I'm still pumped to find out.

but I don't know how any of you can say any BCS school on our schedule is an automatic win. It's like you're asking for the lightning bolts to rain down from the sky. We went through this process when we were 5-2 this season and there was no way we could lose to Illinois or Purdue.

Only the MAC schools should be considered solid wins. Anything else is a toss-up for this team, like it or not.

"There was a time I could have been mistaken for Burt Reynolds. I had a moustache and so did he. But he was the number one star in the world, so there wasn't really much confusion."

Im not taking any team for granted. I just listed teams we should beat. I am not saying they are guaranteed wins. I think we can all recall games that we had in the "should win" column but went the other way for us.

w. your list of wins, much as I would like to. Most or all would place MSU and UConn in toss-up territory, don't you think? So to me that looks like three more or less guaranteed wins.

Of the second group I think Indiana and Purdue look good, but--again--an independent analyst might call Purdue a toss-up, too. But give us those two and throw ND back in the toss-up column, esp. since we play them away.

That might be five likely wins for an outside observer (don't think I'm overplaying the Devil's Advocate role here).

Give us one of my three hypothetical toss-ups and RR has improved on last year, to six wins. Give us two--not hard to imagine--and we are 'on the road to recovery.'

I don't see much more; it seems quite possible that we could be 5-7 again (games should offer a whole new dimension in nail-biting, with the O racking up big scores, the D showing flashes of sorta goodness and nasty breakdowns). But given that changing horses in midstream is a particularly difficult proposition with RR's offense--i.e. you go out and wait another three yrs. to get pro-style guys back in--I'm pretty sure we've got him for another year.

We should be able to win 1 of the first two, plus wins against UMASS, BG, Indiana, Illinois and either Purdue or MSU. That's 6 right there. Wisky and Iowa are both at home, so we should be competitive in both. At Penn St and at OSU will be tough and will take a great performance to win. I see 7 wins at least as long as we continue to improve on offense like we did last year. And our talent level on defense will be a lot better. It will be young so it will make a lot of mistakes, but I don't think teams will be able to have their way with it like they did last year.

They should win one of the first two games, however, they should win both of them. A down ND team, and a UCONN team at home should be two great games to start the season of with. from there, Umass, BG, Indiana, Purdue, and MSU should be other great games. Now you say Illinois is that is still a toss up game for this team, after last year, I think they will have to get the taste of juice out of their mouths before they will be able to take that step forward against them. Wisky and Purdue are in deed at home, however last year if I recall we should have defeated Iowa on the road. So I am not convinced that Iowa will be as much improved as you think they will be. and as for PSU and OSU, well nothing needs to be said there. Penn State will always be a tough game for us and OSU well the streak is now up to what 6 games, so like the Illinois game this team needs to find a way to break through and find a way to beat the Suckeyes.

I really do think this team will be vastly improved from last year, especially on defense. They will for surely be young which is not always a bad thing. Youth is a great thing when you have talent to back up the youth. Like I said in earlier threads the talent level coupled with the fact that GRob is back for a second straight year will improve this defense from last year. I really do see this team winning 8 games or more.

I think we'll be fine this year, but in the unlikely event that Rich Rod is gone for 2011, I really hope we make a run after that Hayden Fox guy. No offense to Harbaugh, but winning a MNC with Minnesota State is far more impressive. Plus his daughter is kind of cute.

...not quite sold on the RR offense for Big 10 play. It just seems like a precision offense suited best for fair weather, but it gets scary when rain and snow starts to fly. Of course, I'd love to be proven wrong this Fall!

- RR may be bringing in more passing for us, but he still know a thing or two about a run-based offense.
- While we have a lot of scatbacks and the like, he has shown he knows the importance of a big back. Look at Minor, and now we have Cox and Hopkins to fill that role.
- Like others said, the offense worked just fine in the snow and rain of WVA. Don't forget Cinci, Oregon, and maybe even some of the teams in the Big 12 North. They all run spreads, be they aerial or ground attacks, and they did quite well this year.

Florida and Oklahoma do fine with the spread, too. Two years ago, Texas Tech did great with players who didn't make the recruiting "cut" at Texas. For that matter, the best years the Lions have had since the 1950's came with the spread option precursor Run and Shoot.

I see at least eight wins next year. Why?

Same DC two years in a row
D finally "got it" against OSU
Help on D from redshirts and recruits
More depth and experience at QB
OL should be better
Team that was too young last year will be a year older, bigger, and stronger
More familiarity with offense
RR should finally be able to install more of his offense

They only need to improve enough to beat Illinois, MSU, and Purdue. That isn't much of an improvement. Actually, to be arrogant about it, it's Michigan's birthright.

Besides, I think people are severely overrating UConn. The Big East isn't that great of a conference, and UConn's "signature win" against ND was a case of them playing their best game and catching late "momentum" against a team coached by an idiot.

If the OL can keep Forcier healthy this year and open up some holes for whoever plays RB, most of us should be pretty happy by November.

I don't expect us to compete for the MNC or even the Big 10 next year, but I do expect to see an improvement that ends with a bowl game. Yeah the schedule is difficult, but a lot of those games are definitely winnable.

...of a bowl game this year, but it's sad to think the normally lofty Michigan football standards (automatic 8 or 9 wins) have been replaced with "hoping" we somehow win a Chick-fil-A Bowl appearance. Hard to fathom for an old timer like me with vivid memories of the Bob Ufer days.

Here's hoping RR can pull this together. Hell, I'd settle for wins against MSU and OSU this year without a bowl birth!

We should look at next season with rose colored glasses. Yes we were 5-7 last year, but were maybe several plays at most from being 8-4 (Iowa,Purdue,MSU). A couple of bounces our way, even with the horrible defense and no one is talking hot seat for RR. We will defintely improve on both sides of the ball with more experience and depth (defensively we have no where to go but up). Keep the faith...GO BLUE!

Not to pick on anyone but since when has beating Ron Zook been the catalyst for a turning around a program or a winning season?? I live in Chicago and would like nothing more for us to beat Illinois (Northwestern, and every other B10 team for that matter) so I can wear my UofM hat with a Win backing me up.

Improvement against the B10 is a must. Beating Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, MSU will happen and we should take one of the Iowa/Wisconsin games at home..

when he was 1 he could barely walk or talk. A year later, hes, running, climbing, talkin, eating on his own & next year I am sure he will improve on all those 10 fold... What I am saying is oh what a difference a year makes.

its quantity over quality. That is not to say that there are not some very good players and prospects in this case, there clearly are. But for now, the key is competent bodies, especially in the defensive secondary. Rich Rod has that coming in spades. I am happy with this class.